Device for advancing film strips



Feb. 2, 1954 Filed Feb. 20, 1951 J. F. JAROS DEVICEZFOR ADVANCING FILM STRIPS f/c i.

4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1954 J. F. JAROS DEVICE FOR ADVANCING FILM STRIPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1951 NW NW mm W Feb. 2, 1954 J JAROS 2,667,810

DEVICE FOR ADVANCING FILM STRIPS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/c d Feb. 2, 1954 J. F. JAROS 2,667,810

DEVICE FOR ADVANCING FILM STRIPS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STA'FhZfi OFFICE DEVICE E OR ADVANCING FILM STRIPS Joseph F. .laros, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-half to Harry N. Seversen, Ardmore, Pa.

Application February 20, 1951, Serial No. 211,955

2st Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and use ful improvements in film strip advancing anism and more particularly, to new and useful improvements in film advancing means especially adapted for stereoscopic viewers, photographic cameras, projectors and like this application Leing a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. filed June 5, 1947, now abandoned.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in devices in which a film, such as a photographic film, is required to be advanced step-by-step either automatically or manually as desired thereby leaving the open hands free to perform other worlr.

With the foregoing in mind, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel film advancing device which embodies automatic film advancing mechanism operable to cause a film to be advanced without the use or" the wearers hands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel automatic filin advancing mecha nism which is actuable solely by a predetermined tilting movement of the device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device or the type described, having the features and characteristics set forth, which is of comparatively simplified construction and entirely efficient and eilective in operation and use.

fhese and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described with refer ence to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating the present invention in the embodiment of a stereoscopic viewer which is adapted to be worn on the head of the user.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in section of the stereoscopic viewer with the cover removed;

Fig. 2c is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the forward limit position of the carriage during automatic operation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33, Fig.2

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line li, Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan views of the stereoscopic viewer with the carriage removed, illustrating the operation of the film advancing mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of stereoscopic viewer made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 9-9, Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 100. are fragmentary schematic plan views of the escapement means and motor means, respectively, in the position they asuume when the housing is tilted in one direction; and

Figs. 11 and, 11a are fragmentary schematic plan views similar to Figs. 10 and 10a illustrating the operating positions with the housing tilted in the other direction.

With reference to the drawings, the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a stereoscopic viewer device which is adapted to be worn on the head or the user, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, reference numeral I0 designates generally a housing for the stereoscopic viewer and comprises a base portion l l, side walls l2, and front and rear walls l3 and I4, respectively. A cover it i provided to fit over the open upper surface of the housing It. Formed as integral parts of the opposite side walls I2 re a film supply compartment It and a film receivlng compartment ll adapted to support the film passed through the viewer.

Extending transversely of the viewer is a. film directing member I8 which has a slot I9 therein adapted to receive and guide the film. A pair of apertures 22 are provided in the film directing member 18 equally spaced at opposite sides or the longitudinal axis of the stereoscopic viewer and these apertures are positioned to receive mating pairs of pictures. Positioned in axial alignment with the film apertures 22 and adjustably mounted in the forward wall 53 of the housing It is a pair of lenses 23 which magnify and bring into proper focus the pictures framed in the film aperture 22.

In the present embodiment of the invention the film is illuminated by means of a pair of lamps 2 mounted on generally rectangular bases 25 carried by slides 26 which are formed as integral parts of the side walls I2. By mounting the lamps 2c in this manner they are easily accessible when it is necessary to change or replace them. Light is directed from the lamps 2ito the film apertures 22 by shields 27? formed as il1ustrated in Fig. 2 and having their interior coated or painted with a. material which will transmit perfectly white light to the film apertures The shields 2i are carried by slides 28 formed as an integral part of the base 25 to allow the shields ill to be easily removed from the base 25.

In accordance with the present invention the film is advanced by means of a sprocket wheel 31 rotatably mounted in the housing In with a portionof its periphery extending through a slot 32 in the film directing member It; so that the teeth on the sprocket 3i engage the usual openings provided in the film. An importnt feature of the present invention is the provision of mechanism to rotate the sprocket 3i and thereby advance the film when desired. To this end acarriage 33 is provided -which is slidably mounted on a, pair of spaced parallel tracks 34 extending transtn versely of the housing. The carriage 33 is freely mounted on the tracks 34 and may be moved therealong merely by tilting the housing forward or backward.

Relative twisting movement of the carriage 33 is prevented by means of a guide 35 extending transversely of the housing l and adapted to engage a pair of rollers 36 depending downwardly from the lower surface of the carriage 33. Thus when the housing I0 is tilted rearwardly the carriage 33 will move toward the rear of the stereoscopic viewer, and when the housing is tilted forwardly the carriage 33 will readily move toward the front of the viewer.

As previously described, the film is advanced by means of the sprocket wheel 3| rotatably mounted in the housing Ill. The sprocket wheel 3| is fixedly secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 31, and the upper end of the shaft 3i carries a ratchet wheel 38 which has a plurality of ratchet teeth 39 thereon. The teeth 39 of the ratchet wheel 33 are adapted to be engaged by a pair of pawls 4| and 42 which actuate the ratchet wheel 38 and in turn the sprocket wheel 3| during the forward and rearward movement of the carriage 33. The pawls 4| and 42 are pivotally mounted to the lower surface of the carriage 33 as indicated at 43 and 44, respectively, and are normally urged into engagement with the teeth 33 on the ratchet wheel 38 by means of springs 45 and 46 formed as integral parts of the pawls 4| and 42. The springs 45 and 46 bear against and react on lugs 41 and 4B which depend downwardly from the lower surface of the carriage 33 and thus urge the pawls 4| and 42 normally into engagement with the ratchet wheel 38.

With reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the pawls 4| and 42 are constructed so that during the forward stroke of the carriage 33 the pawl 4| will engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 and rotate the same and the sprocket 3| in the clockwise direction. At the same time the pawl 42 ratchets over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 so that during the rearward stroke of the carriage 33 the pawl 42 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 to rotate the same further in the clockwise direction while the pawl 4| ratchets over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Extending upwardly from the guide 35 is a stop disposed to engage the rear surface of the carriage 33 and thus limit the extreme rearward position of the carriage. A cam member 52 secured to the lower surface of the guide 35 operates to disengage the pawls 4| and 42 from the ratchet wheel when the carriage 33 is in its extreme forward position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

However, it is important in the automatic operation of the device by back and forth-tilting movement thereof that forward movement of the carriage 33 be terminated sufficiently short of its extreme forward position to prevent disengagement of the pawls 4| and 42 from the ratchet wheel 36, and in the present instance an auxiliary stop for the carriage 33 short of its extreme forward position is provided as a part of mechanism which is provided to effect manual back and forth actuation of the carriage 33 as distinguished from automatic actuation thereof by back and forth tilting movement of the device.

To this end a slide 53 is secured to one side of the housing In and carries a reciprocable member 54 therein. The member 54 in turn has a resilient spring 55 secured thereto which sup ports a finger 55 extending inwardly through a slot 57 into the housing H). The finger 56 is adapted to releasably engage through an opening in an extension 33a endwise outwardly from the carriage 33. Thus manual movement of the member 54 on its slide 53 will impart similar motion to the carriage 33, thereby advancing the film through the stereoscopic viewer in the manner described. With the finger 55 engaged in the opening in the carriage extension 33a for manual operation as described, manual reciprocation of the member 54 on its slide 53 operates to move the carriage 33 to and from its extreme forward position in which the pawls 4! and 42 are disengaged from the ratchet wheel 38 by cam 52 and consequently the finger 56 may be engaged through the opening in the extension 33a to retain the carriage 33 in its extreme forward position, disengaged from the pawls 4| and 42, so as to permit rewinding of the film strip without interference from the film advancing mechanism.

As previously stated, finger 56 is releasable from the carriage extension 33a and, in the case of automatic operation of the carriage by back and forth tilting movement of the device, the finger 56 preferably is disengaged from the carriage extension 33a and the device tilted to move the carriage toward its rearward position. After the carriage extension has cleared the finger 55 the latter is moved to the forward limit of the slot 5? and then released so that its spring 55 positions it inwardly of the device in the path of forward movement of the carriage 33 as shown in Fig. 2a of the drawings. Thus the finger 56 constitutes an auxiliary stop which acts to terminate forward movement of the carriage 33 sufficiently short of its extreme limit position to prevent the cam 52 from disengaging the pawls 4| and 42 from the ratchet wheel 38.

With the finger 56 positioned as described and functioning as an auxiliary stop for the carriage 33, it is pointed out that back and forth tilting movement of the device will cause the carriage 33' similarly to move back and forth a fixed distance which is predetermined to cause the sprocket 3| to be rotated step-by-step and actuate or advance the film strip the required distance during each complete back and forth stroke of the carriage.

It is important that the forward and rearward limit positions assumed by the carriage 33 during tilting of the housing [0 are such that the carriage moves back and forth a fixed distance which is predetermined to cause the sprocket 3| to be rotated step-bystep and actuate or advance the film strip the required distance during each complete back and forth stroke of the carriage. In other words, when the carriage is actuated to the rear of the housing It and the pawl 4| operates to actuate the sprocket 3| a distance to advance the film strip one-half the required distance, and when the carriage is actuated to the front of the housing the pawl 42 operates to rotate sprocket 3| a further increment to advance the film strip the final one-half of the required distance so that successive full picture advancements of the film strip are effected by successive ggmplete strokes, back and forth, of the carriage When the carriage 33 is in the forward limit position illustrated in Fig. 2a, a pair of pictures are presented to the film apertures 22 and the lamps 24 are lit, thereby illuminating the film. A

plurality of batteries 58 are carried by the carriage 33 and are adapted to light the lamps 24 when the carriage is in its forward position. To this end a pair of contacts 59 extend outwardly from each side of the carriage 33 and are operable to engage contact members 59a which completes the circuit to the lamps 24. In order to prevent the lamps from being lit when the stereoscopic viewer is not in use the carriage 33 may be moved toward the rear of the housing and the finger 56 disengaged from the extension 33d and placed in front of the extension 3302 to pre vent engagement of the contact members 59 and 59a.

A modified form of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The film actuating mechanism of this embodiment is shown in conjunction with a stereoscopic viewer which comprises a housing or case designated generally as 60 and includes top and bottom walls SI and 62, l

respectively, and diagonal side walls 63. The side walls 63 are extended at the front end of the housing and curved to provide a film supply compartment 6-6 and a film receiving compartment 65.

Extending transverselyof the housing (it from the film supply compartment 64 to the film receiving compartment 55 is a film directing member 68 which has a slot 69 therein through which the film passes. A pair of film apertures ll are provided in the film directing member 68 equally spaced at opposite sides of the transverse axis of the stereoscopic viewer and these apertures are positioned to receive mating pairs of pictures. Adiustably mounted in th forward wall of the housing 60 in axial alignment with the film apertures ll are a pair of lenses 12 which magnify and bring into proper focus the pictures framed in the film apertures ll. In the present embodiment of the invention the film is illuminated by admitting light to the interior of the housing 6% through a translucent window 13 which is provided at the rear of the housing 60.

In accordance with the present invention the film is advanced by means of a sprocket wheel 14 rotatably mounted in the housing 60 and having a plurality of pins 'l ia thereon which are adapted to engage openings in the film. In the present embodiment separate means are provided to actuate the sprocket wheel Hi and to control the amount of rotation thereof.

Operation of the sprocket wheel M i effected by tilting th housing 6!! backward and forward. Each time the rear of the housing is lowered and raised a separate set of pictures is presented to the film apertures H. The sprocket wheel 14 is fixedly secured to a vertical shaft which is rotatably mounted in the top and bottom walls G l and 52 respectively of the housing. The shaft 15 is driven by means of a coil spring it which encircles the shaft 15 and has its inner end fixedly secured thereto. The outer end of the coil spring 16 is fastened to a ratchet wheel H. An escapement disc 18 is also secured to the shaft 15 to limit the amount of rotation thereof during each complete tilting motion of the housing 60. Wi h reference to Figs. 19a and 11a, a pair of weighted. arms SI and Mara rotatably mounted on the shaft 15 and are operable to wind the coil spring 15 during each cycle of operation of the stereoscopic viewer. The weighted arms 8| and 82 are interconnected by a linkage designated generally as 83 in order to provide similar motion to each of the arms. Pawls 84 and 85 extend inwardly of the arms 8| and 82 respective- 6 ly and are held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel Tl.

As shown in Fig. 10a when the housing 60 is tilted rearwardly the pawl 86 operatively engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 11 and m tates the same in a clockwise direction. Simi-' larly, as illustrated in Fig. 11a, when the hous ing GE! is tilted forwardly the weighted arms 8i and 82 move toward the front of the housing and the pawl 8 operatively engages the ratchet wheel '51, thereby rotating it further in a clockwise direction. Clockwise direction of the ratchet wheel l? operates to wind the spring Hi. It is readily apparent that by this construction a substantially constant tension is maintained in the spring 16 due to the fact that the spring resists movement of the arms, 6! and $22. It is also apparent that the spring it may be omitted and the ratchet wheel ii fixedly secured to the shaft '55 in order to impart rotation thereto.

As previously mentioned, the amount of rotation of the sprocket wheel it is limited by means of the escapement discs lit. With reference new to Figs. 10 and 11, a pair of weighted arr'ns 9| and 92 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 15 and are interconnected by a linkage 93 in order to as sure similar movement of each of the arms BI and Q2. Depending downwardly from the forward and rear ends of the linkage 93 is a pair of blades fit. and 95, respectively, which are adapted to engage lugs cc extending upwardly from the es-' capement discs it.

As illustrated in Fig. 19, when the housing 6!) is tilted rearwardly the arms 9| and 92 move toward the rear of the housing, thereby placing the blade 95 in the path of the lugs 96 thus efiectively stopping rotation of the shaft l5 and also the sprocket wheel 1 As the housing 50 is tilted forwardly the arms ill and 82 move to a position as indicated in Fig. ll, thus removing the blade 95 from engagement with the lug96 and allowing the escapement disc 78 to rotate until a second plug 96 is brought into engagement with the forward blade 9 Th lugs 96 are so posi tioned on the escapement discs 78 that a complete rearward and forward tilting cycle of the housing as will permit the sprocket wheel 14 to rotat the exact amount necessary in order to present the next set of pictures to the film apertures 'i l.

The driving mechanism and the escapement means of the present embodiment may be actuated by a method which does not require tilting of the housing. To this end the linkage 93 associated with the escapement means is provided with a reciprocating rod 93 connected with the linkage at the pivot 93. The reciproeating rod 93 passes through an upright standard tilt and the rod is provided with stops I02 located on opposite sides of the standard. In a similar manner the linkage 83 associated with the ratchet wheel i! is also provided with a reciprocating rod EM secured to the linkage 83 as indicated. at l lhe connection between the reciprocating rod IM and the linkage 83 is com structed to provide a 10st motion connection with the thrust being taken up by a coil spring I06, thereby preventing exertion of too great a ten-' sion on the spring 16. The reciprocating rod HM also passes freely through the standard Hit and has stops It! disposed at opposite sides of the standard.

The standard I!!! is formed integrally with a reciprocable member I09 mounted for limited longitudinal movement on slides Hi. There ciprocable member H19 may be reciprocated by a lug H2 which extends outwardly through a slot I I3 in the housing of the stereoscopic viewer. By forcing the reciprocable member 109 forward and backward the escapement means and the ratchet wheel are operated thereby moving the film through the stereoscopic viewer. A coil spring H4 is provided to yieldably bias the reciprocable member 109 and thus the upright I!!! in a neutral position.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present invention provides novel film advancement mechanism whereby film may be advanced stey-by-step either automatically or manually as desired. Furthermore, the present invention provides film advancing means which may be actuated by a predetermined movement of the operators head or a tilting movement of the device thereby leaving the operators hands free to perform other work.

- While the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a stereoscopic viewer device it will be apparent that the film advancing mechanism made in accordance with the present invention is equally adaptable for use in photographic cameras and projectors, other types of viewers, viewer projectors and other devices in which a film strip is advanced step-bystep through a succession of steps of equal increments. ment of the mechanism of the present invention shown and described herein may be changed and modified within the scope of the following claims.

' I claim:

1. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free back forth movement and actuatable in said direc tions respectively by back and forth tilting motion of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement thereof to effect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

2. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free movement back and forth in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting motion of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement of the weighted means to efiect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

3. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free back and forth movement within predetermined limits, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement thereof to Furthermore, the particular embodi- 8. actuate the drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, and manual means actuatable into engagement with said weighted means and selectively operable at will to actuate said weighted means back and forth.

4. In a device for advancing a film strip, means comprising a rotatable sprocket having teeth to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free movement back and forth in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting motion of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means including a rotatable ratchet wheel, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement of the weighted means to engage said ratchet and effect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to ad- Vance the film strip in successive equal steps.

5. In a device for advancing a film strip, means comprising a member having teeth to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free back and forth movement and actuatable in said directions respectively by back and forth tilting motion of the device, a shaft rotatably mounted in said device and mounting said film advancing member, drive mechanism for said film advancing member including a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, and pawls carried by said weighted means operable by back and forth movement of the weighted means to engage and rotate said ratchet wheel step-by-step in the same direction.

6. In a device for advancing a film strip, means comprising a member having teeth to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free movement in respectively opposite directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting motion of the device, a shaft rotatably mounted in said device and mounting said film advancing member, drive mechanism for said film advancing means including a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each backward and forward tilting motion of the device to engage and rotate said ratchet wheel one step for each undirectional movement of the weighted means, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and cause the film advancing member to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

7. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighte', means mounted in said device for back and forth movement and actuatable in said directions r spectively by back and forth tilting motion of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement of the weighted means to effect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps, and

9 manual means engageable with said weighted means and selectively operable to actuate said Weighted means,

8. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance film strip, a weighted carriage slidably mounted in said device for free movement back and forth in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting movement of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said carriage operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to effect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

9. In a device for advancing a film strip, a rotatable sprocket having teeth to engage and advance the film strip, a Weighted carriage slidably mounted in said device for free back and forth movement and actuatable in said directions respectively by back and forth tilting mo.- tion of the device, drive mechanism for said sprocket including a ratchet wheel, pavvls carried by said carriage and engaging opposite sides of said ratchet wheel operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to engage and rotate said ratchet wheel and effect actuation of said sprocket one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit actuation of the ratchet wheel in each direction of the carriage and thereby cause the sprocket to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

10. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, a weighted carriage slidably mounted in said device for free back and forth movement in direc tions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting movement of the device, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said carriage operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to effect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps, an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy, lamps to illuminate said film and switch means normally biased to open circuit position, and means on said carriage operable in one limit position thereof to engage and close said switch means.

11. In a device for advancing a film strip, a rotatable sprocket having teeth to engage and advance the film strip, a weighted carriage slidably mounted in said device for free back and forth movement and. actuatable in said directions respectively by back and forth tilting motion of the device, drive mechanism for said sprocket includin a ratchet wheel, pawls carried by said carriage and engaging opposite sides of said ratchet wheel operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to engage and rotate said ratchet wheel and effect actuation of said sprocket one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy, lamps to illuminate said film and switch means normally biased to open circuit position, and means on said carriage operable in one limit position thereof to engage and close said switch means.

12. In a device for advancing a film strip, a rotatable sprocket having teeth to en age and advance the film strip, a weighted carriage slidably mounted in said device for free back and forth movement and actuatable in said directions respectively by back and forth tilting motion of the device, a shaft rotatably mounted in said device and mounting said sprocket wheel, drive mechanism for said sprocket including a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, pawls carried by carriage and engaging opposite sides of said ratchet wheel operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to engage and rotate said. ratchet wheel and effect rotation of said sprocket one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit actuation of the ratchet wheel in each direction of the carriage and thereby cause the sprocket to advan e the film strip in successive equal steps.

13. In a device for advancing a film strip, guide means for the film, motor means including a shaft capable of operation in one direction only for advancing th film strip through said guide means, weighted means mounted at opposite sides of the shaft for free movement back and forth in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions by backward and forward tilting motion of the device, linkage operatively connecting the weighted means, a member for controlling movement of the linkage to cause the weighted means to move in unison and to a like extent, a ratchet Wheel mounted for rotation on the shaft, and a pawl carried by each of the weighted means and engaging the ratchet wheel, one pawl being operative to rotate the ratchet Wheel upon movement of the weighted means in one direction and the other pawl being operative to continue rotation of the ratchet wheel upon movement of the weighted means in the opposite direction.

14. In a device for advancing a film strip as claimed in claim 13 which additionally includes a film engaging sprocket rotated by the motor means, and an escapement means interposed between the sprocket and. the motor means for controlling the extent of rotation of the sprocket for each actuation of the escapement means.

15. In a device for advancing a film strip as claimed in claim 13 which additionally includes a film engaging sprocket rotated by the shaft, a coil spring having one end fixed to the shaft and fixed at its other end to the ratchet wheel, whereby rotation of the wheel Will Wind the spring to store energy in the spring, and escapement means for controlling the extent of rotation of the shaft for each actuation of the escapement means.

16. In a device for advancing a film strip, a film guiding and directing member, motor means capable of operation in one direction only for pr polling the film through the guiding member, said motor means including a shaft journalled in the device, weighted means mounted for back and forth rotation on the shaft and disposed on opposite sides of the shaft, means operatively connecting the weighted means whereby they move in. unison, a ratchet Wheel mounted on the shaft, and a pawl carried by each weighted means and engaging the ratchet wheel, one pawl being operative to rotat the ratchet wheel upon movement of the weighted means in one direction and the other pawl being operative to rotate the ratchet wheel upon movement of the Weighted means in the opposite direction, said weighted means having movement in a substantially horizontal plane so that they may be actuated by rocking motion of the device, whereby the motor means is operative to propel the film when the device is upright for use as a camera and is also operative to propel the film when the device is inverted for use as a viewer.

17. In a device for advancing a film strip as claimed in claim 16 which additionally includes a sprocket engaging the film and rotated by the motor means and escapement means interposed between the sprocket and motor mean for controlling the extent of rotation of the sprocket for each actuation of the escapement means, said escapement means including weighted means mounted for free movement on the shaft, and stop members carried by the weighted means.

18. In a device for advancing a film strip as claimed in claim 16 which additionally includes a sprocket engaging the film and rotated by the shaft, a coil spring having one end fixed to the shaft and fixed at its other end to the ratchet wheel, whereby rotation of the Wheel will wind the spring to store energy in the spring for rotating the shaft, and escapement means for controlling the extent of rotation of the shaft for each actuation of the escapement means, said escapement means including weighted means mounted for free movement on the shaft and stop members carried by the weighted means.

19. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, a

weighted carriag slidably mounted in said device for free movement back and forth in directions forwardly and rearwardly of the device and actuatable in said directions respectively by backward and forward tilting movement of the device, a

guide to direct movement of said carriage, rollers carriage operable during each back and forth movement of the carriage to efilect actuation of said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the carriage, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit movement of the drive mechanism in each direction f.

and thereby cause the advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

20. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounmd in said device for free back and forth movement within predetermined limits, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement thereof to actuate the drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, means operable in one extreme limit position of the carriag to disengage said pawls from the drive mechanism for rewinding of the film strip.

21. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free back and forth movement within predetermined limits, drive mechanissm for said film advancing means, pawls carried by said weighted means operable during each back and forth movement thereof to actuate the drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means, means operable in one extreme limit position of the carriage to disengage said pawls from the drive mechanism for rewinding of the film strip, and means to retain the carriage in said extreme limit position during rewinding of the film strip.

22. In a device for advancing a film strip, means to engage and advance the film strip, weighted means mounted in said device for free back and forth movement centrally balanced between opposite lateral sides of the device and actuatable in back and forth directions respectively by back and forth tilting motion of said device, guide means for said weighted means, rollers positioned between said guide means and said weighted means to permit free relative movement therebetween, drive mechanism for said film advancing means, and means interconnecting said weighted means and the drive mechanism during each back and forth movement of the weighted means operable to actuate said drive mechanism one step for each unidirectional movement of the weighted means and thereby cause said advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal s eps.

23. In a device for advancing a film strip, film propulsion means mounted in said device for free to and fro movement, guide means in said device to prevent relative twisting movement of said propulsion means, drive mechanism to engage and advance the film strip, manual means actuatable into engagement with said propulsion means to selectively actuate the same, and stop means operable to predeterminedly limit the to and fro movement of said propulsion means and thereby limit the drive mechanism to successive unidirectional equal steps of film advancement.

24. In a device for advancing a film strip comprising a housing having relatively spaced compartments and means to guide a film strip within the housing from one compartment to the other compartment, film strip advancing means positioned to engage the film strip at a point along the travel thereof from said one compartment to said other compartment and operable to positively advance the film strip in one direction, drive means for said film advancing means, propulsion means actuatable in back and forth directions respectively and operable during each back and forth movement thereof to engage and actuate said drive means and advance the film strip in one direction step-by-step, and stop means to predeterminedly limit back and forth movement of said propulsion means and thereby cause the film advancing means to advance the film strip in successive equal steps.

JOSEPH F. JAROS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Sept. ,2, 1909 

